Dortmund issue Aubameyang response amid Arsenal rumours
The Bundesliga club say they could cope without the prolific striker but are keen to keep hold of their players
Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has responded to reports linking star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a move to Arsenal in January.
The 26-year-old has been in stunning form this season scoring 24 goals in 23 appearances for the Bundesliga side, leading to reports that the Gunners are set to spend £42 million to bring him to the Premier League.
While Watzke insists Dortmund could cope without Aubameyang, he also says the club are confident they can keep hold of their players.
"One must never make the mistake to believe that a club like BVB is dependent on a player. We are not dependent on anyone," he told Bild.
READ MORE | Aubameyang committed to Dortmund"When Robert Lewandowski left, we found [a solution] and he even has three more goals than Lewa.
"We are now so well positioned that we can offer alternative solutions again and again.
"[The goal is that] our team stays together. We do not have as much money as the top stars in the Premier League, but we have a lot of other things to offer - for example our players were able to celebrate Christmas."
Watzke also pointed out this isn't the first time a Dortmund player has been linked with a move away, using the examples of Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan.
He added: "Last year around this time, many journalists wrote that our top players would be gone.
"Hummels was at Manchester United. Gundogan was with [Real] Madrid, Manchester or Barcelona. And where are they now? Still with us!"
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